STOCKS | Regional Shares Mostly Higher; Hang Seng Slips at Open

Regional shares were mostly higher in early trading on Thursday, tracking an overnight rally in U.S. semiconductor stocks, though sentiment was tempered by higher oil prices after renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities, according to RTHK. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened down 18 points, or 0.07%, at 24,181. The Hang Seng Tech Index rose 13 points, or nearly 0.3%, to 4,744, while the China Enterprises Index edged down less than one point to 8,083. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite opened up six points, or 0.17%, at 3,977. The Shenzhen Component gained 98 points, or 0.66%, to 15,038, and the ChiNext Index rose 46 points, or 1.22%, to 3,892. In Tokyo, the Nikkei opened up 227 points, or 0.34%, at 67,046 and was up 1,275 points, or 1.91%, at 68,094 at one stage before noon. In Seoul, the Kospi opened up 239 points, or 3.31%, at 7,486, but later trimmed gains to be up 26 points, or 0.37%, at 7,273 at one stage before lunch.